Cloud Networking Startup Aviatrix Launches 'Consumable' Network Security PaaS Option

The cloud networking standout has unveiled its cloud network security platform-as-a-service offering that gives channel partners an "easily consumable" and "sellable" answer to securing the perimeter of the cloud and another consumption model for enterprises to choose from that one executive said is comparable to "legacy Cisco versus Cisco Meraki."

Aviatrix Systems is rearchitecting networking and network security for the cloud by offering up its flagship platform in a new consumption option for enterprises.

The cloud networking upstart has always embraced the consumption-based IT buying model, but its offering has never been served up as a service. Instead, the customer has had to download and install Aviatrix in their cloud environment and then either handle the management piece on their own or with the help of an MSP. But the company is announcing its next big evolution in the form of Aviatrix cloud network security platform-as-a-service (Aviatrix PaaS), said Chris McHenry, senior vice president of product management.

"I compare it to [something] like legacy Cisco versus Cisco Meraki, where we're managing the network, and it's an as a service offering in the cloud that's super easy to spin up. The goal is to make it as simple and as easy to manage as a first-party service from the cloud provider, so an AWS, Azure or a Google branded service. You can deploy our product and you can get the benefits of networking and network security, without having to think about any of the operational overhead," McHenry told CRN.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company is launching Aviatrix PaaS in a limited fashion with one of its most popular and successful use cases: cloud perimeter security. The platform can be integrated with customers’ existing tools, APIs, and systems, according to the company.

"We’re giving people the opportunity to buy [cloud perimeter security] in very consumable chunks," McHenry said. "Initially, we’re going with our most compelling use case and then over the next three to six months, you’ll see additional use cases unlocked."

Many of the biggest enterprises still lack effective security controls in the cloud, according to McHenry, who said that several compelling events this year are driving enterprises towards making decisions around securing the perimeter of their cloud.

"Azure is changing the way that services connect out to the internet, and so as partners are working as trusted advisors with the organizations that they consult with, most likely they're making decisions in these spaces and giving the partners a very easily consumable, sellable offering, I think, is a really great opportunity for them to increase their relevance in cloud conversations as well," he said.

Aviatrix PaaS gives administrators increased control and visibility into network health on flexible, SLA-backed infrastructure without requiring hands-on management. The offering has been injected with AI so that end users get benefit from predictive insights and AI-powered discovery and enrichment of egress traffic flows to a chatbot which will serve up instant, intelligent responses, according to the company.

Modernizing networking and security presents a big opportunity for the channel, McHenry said. Aviatrix PaaS will let users get similar benefits to a modern network-as-a-service (NaaS) offering and give businesses another consumption model to choose from, he said.

"Customers go to the cloud because they want to offload some of the management of infrastructure to the cloud providers. We have to be able to deliver that same experience to our customers," McHenry said. "Making [Aviatrix] easy for a partner to sell and deploy, I think, is really, really critical," he added.

Aviatrix does 20 percent of its business through channel partners today, the company told CRN.

Aviatrix PaaS will be available in early preview next month and will be made generally available in January or February 2025, according to the company.

Aviatrix in 2023 brought on former Splunk CEO Doug Merritt as its president and CEO.